Category: Cyprus News Agency

Most consumers are not filling up their cars, the Vice President and Spokesperson of the Gas Station Owners’ Association, Christodoulos Christodoulou, told the Cyprus News Agency on Monday, expressing his assessment that fuel prices are expected to fall by the end of August at the latest, provided that international oil prices stabilise at lower levels.

Asked by CNA whether the upward trend in fuel prices is expected to continue, Christodoulou noted that, since 17 July, petrol has increased by 12 cents per litre, diesel by 19 cents per litre and heating oil by 10 cents per litre, stressing that these are ‘very steep increases’.

According to Christodoulou, the current average price of unleaded 95 petrol is around pound 1.60 per litre, diesel is around pound 1.79 per litre, and heating oil is around pound 1.49 per litre.

He said that the price of oil is falling, but fuel prices have increased, noting that new shipments need to arrive before prices can come down.

Asked about this, he said that the current prices probably relate to fuel shipments purchased when oil was trading at $95-97 per barrel.

‘We expect prices to fall, provided that the price [of oil] stabilises at lower levels,’ he said, noting that it is currently at $84 per barrel, compared with $79 two or three days ago.

‘We hope the upward trend will not continue,’ he added.

Asked when the new shipments are expected, Christodoulou said that this is a matter for the companies, but that companies generally bring in new shipments approximately every 15 days and that, ‘logically, by the end of the month at the latest, we will see price reductions’.

Asked whether they are receiving complaints from consumers, Christodoulou said that consumers are asking questions and complaining because they see international oil prices falling during this period while fuel prices at petrol stations are increasing. He added that petrol station owners explain the reasons behind the increases.

Replying to another question, he said that most consumers do not fill up their cars. ‘They may put in pound 20, pound 30 or pound 40 at a time. Very few fill their tanks,’ he added.

Asked whether there has been increased consumption due to summer trips to beaches and mountainous areas, Christodoulou said there has been ‘a slight increase’ in traffic, but that people are being cautious.

‘People are not travelling around as much as they used to’, he said. Christodoulou also pointed out that many consumers are going to the Turkish occupied areas to fill up their cars because fuel is cheaper there, noting that this was a ‘very serious issue’.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 10/08/2026 UNTIL 1800 11/08/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1004hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but tonight and early morning increased low cloud may be present.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night Northwest 3 to 4, gradually North to Northeast 3 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

South Coast

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually Northwest 3 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

East Coast

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, later Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, at times offshore 4 Slight

North Coast

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally West to Northwest 4 Slight

Time of issue: 1700

Date: 10/08/2026

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today`s stock exchange meeting as follows:

MEETING DATE: 10/08/2026

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE:

366.274,47

INDEX

VALUE

% DIFF.

VALUE (pound )

FTSE/CySE 20

187,890

0,790

362.444,730

MAIN MARKET INDEX

251,570

0,740

319.717,700

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

2.890,610

1,350

36.196,890

CSE GENERAL INDEX

319,770

0,780

362.497,820

HOTELS INDEX

1.762,010

0,000

625,200

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

2.151,940

1,180

43.405,320

* The second column presents the percentage variation of the indices as compared to the last meeting.

With 18 hits in the Men’s Trap final, Cypriot champion George Gregoriou secured third place and the bronze medal at the European Shooting Championships U23, currently being held in Poland.

According to the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation (CS???), Gregoriou qualified for the final with a score of 118/125, the second-best score in the competition.

Turkey’s Egemen Acca claimed the gold medal with 29/30 hits, while Slovakia’s Timotej Toth took second place and the silver medal with 25/30 hits.

Cyprus Men’s Trap team also wins bronze

The Cyprus Men’s Trap Team also secured third place and the bronze medal at the European Shooting Championships U23, finishing with a total score of 340 points, just one point behind Slovakia in second place with 341.

Croatia won the gold medal with a total of 347 points.

The Cyprus team consisted of young athletes George Gregoriou (118/125), Andreas Germanos (111/125) and Kyriakos Papazahariou (111/125).

The President and members of the CS??? Board of Directors congratulated the young trap shooters and national trap coach Antonis Fettas on securing third place and the bronze medal in the team event.

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to offer a spectacular display under moonless skies when it peaks on the night of Wednesday, August 12, with several events planned in Cyprus’ mountain areas.

Cyprus Astronomy Society President and astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas and AstroVerce Astronomy Club founder Sotiris Savvides spoke to CNA about the phenomenon and events in Kyperounta and Amiantos, while the Troodos Observatory also announced activities marking the peak.

Fakas described the Perseids as one of the most impressive annual meteor showers, saying that this year they ‘are expected to be spectacular because of the moonless sky’.

He invited the public to attend an astronomy night in Kyperounta, organised by the Cyprus Astronomy Society (ASTREK), the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO) and the Fakas Observatory, in cooperation with the Community Council.

The event will begin at 21:00 in the courtyard of Agios Arsenios church. Visitors are advised to bring warm clothing and a blanket, while talks will also be held and people with telescopes and cameras are welcome to bring their equipment.

Fakas also referred to the total solar eclipse taking place on the same day, which will not be visible from Cyprus but from parts of western Europe. He said the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, causing total darkness for more than two minutes in areas along the path of totality, along with a drop in temperature.

Meanwhile, Savvides told CNA that the AstroVerce Astronomy Club, in cooperation with the Cyprus Planetarium and with permission from the Department of Forests, is organising an astronomy night at the Amiantos Astropark.

‘The phenomenon peaks on August 12 and people may be able to see more than 100 meteors per hour, which is something exciting,’ he said, urging visitors to arrive from 19:00.

Seven telescopes will be available, while at 20:30 organisers will give a presentation on the night sky and constellations. Visitors wishing to photograph the Perseids are also welcome.

Savvides advised visitors to bring warm clothes, chairs, food and drinks, stressing that lighting fires is strictly prohibited and no waste should be left behind.

The Nightsky Explorers Club is also holding an event at the Amiantos Astropark from 20:00, offering visitors the chance to observe the Perseids, planets, stars and other celestial objects through telescopes. Visitors may also bring sleeping bags or tents if they wish to spend the night at the site.

The Troodos Observatory said the meteor shower will peak from Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday, August 13, with up to 100 meteors per hour potentially visible under ideal conditions.

‘This year the phenomenon coincides with the New Moon, leaving the night sky completely moonless and increasing the chances of observing even faint meteors,’ it said.

Free stargazing will also be available from 20:00 on Wednesday at the observatory in Agridia.

The observatory added that the all-sky camera installed at the SPICA Observatory in Prodromos will stream live images of the night sky every evening at www.cosmos.cy/allsky

It also urged visitors to respect the natural environment and avoid all forms of pollution, particularly the lighting of fires.

A Perseid night will also be held at the Kampos Astropark, near the Kampos Forest Heritage Museum, from 21:00, while the Larnaca Photography Club is organising an astrophotography outing at the Prodromos reservoir in Troodos from 21:30, open to anyone interested in the night sky and photography.

The number of professional firefighters in Cyprus reached 1,200 in 2025, accounting for 0.24% of total employment in the country, according to data published by Eurostat on Monday.

The share in Cyprus was higher than the European Union average, where professional firefighters accounted for 0.18% of total employment.

Across the European Union, a total of 372,400 professional firefighters were employed in 2025.

Eurostat noted that fire services relied on a younger workforce, with 74.7% of professional firefighters aged under 50, compared with 64.4% of the total employed population in the EU.

Among the 22 EU member states for which data were available, Greece recorded the highest share of professional firefighters as a proportion of total employment, at 0.47%.

It was followed by Croatia at 0.43% and Portugal at 0.33%.

By contrast, the lowest shares were recorded in the Netherlands at 0.05%, Austria at 0.07% and Sweden at 0.10%, according to Eurostat data.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 10/08/2026 UNTIL 0600 11/08/2026

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1005hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but tonight and during the morning locally increased low cloud coverage will be present.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

Night

Northwest to North 3, at times locally 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning

Variable 3, gradually South to Southwest 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5

Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning

Variable 3, later Southeast to Southwest

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

South to Southwest 4, at times 4 to 5

Smooth to Slight

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3

Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning

Southwest to West 3, gradually Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to West 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Smooth to Slight, at times locally Slight

Night

South to Southwest 3, offshore Southwest to West 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, offshore Slight

Time of issue: 0530

Date: 10/08/2026

CNA/ME/GV/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus, Greece and Jordan on Thursday, August 6, signed the renewal of their Trilateral Defence Cooperation Programme (TDCP) at the Headquarters of the General Staff of the Cyprus National Guard, according to a statement issued by the General Staff on Monday.

The agreement is part of efforts to further strengthen defence cooperation among the three countries and deepen their relations in the fields of security and defence, the statement said.

The renewal of the TDCP provides for the continuation and further development of cooperation among the armed forces of the three countries, based on the existing framework for cooperation, it added.

The signing of the programme marks a continuation of the trilateral cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Jordan in the defence sector and strengthens coordination and joint activities among the three countries, the statement concluded.

Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Elena Perikleous, participated in the 40th World Congress of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which took place in Ottawa, Canada, from 6 to 9 August 2026, with the central theme ‘Listening to Each Other’s Voices’.

According to a press release from the Commissioner’s Office on Monday, the conference served as an important international forum bringing together people from more than 50 countries who are active in the fields of children’s and young adult literature, education, research, libraries and the protection of children’s rights.

The proceedings focused, among other things, on children’s voices and participation, inclusion and representation, literature in contexts of war, crisis and displacement, indigenous languages and cultures, as well as the new challenges posed by the digital age and artificial intelligence, the press release says.

It is noted that the Commissioner’s active contribution to the Conference’s academic programme was particularly significant, with her presentation ‘Reading Routes – Discovering Lifesaving Books’, as part of the thematic session ‘Inclusive Classrooms and Libraries: Best Practices’.

The presentation, it adds, highlighted the potential of children’s literature to serve not only as a means of fostering a love of reading, but also as a space for self-discovery and understanding others, empowering children’s voices, fostering inclusion and promoting their rights.

It also outlined the philosophy behind the Reading Routes programme, in which books are approached as ‘lifelines’, namely books that can help a child recognise and express emotions and experiences, encounter stories different from their own, develop empathy and feel that their own voice has a place and value.

The presentation further highlighted the importance of creating inclusive reading communities in schools and libraries, where every child can access high-quality books, participate meaningfully and find stories in which they can either recognise themselves or discover the world through someone else’s eyes, providing an opportunity to convey to a global audience an approach that links literature, education and children’s rights, while also building bridges for the exchange of best practice and future collaborations.

It is added that a highlight of the Congress was the ceremony for the IBBY Honour List 2026, during which Commissioner and author Elena Perikleous was honoured for her book ‘I Did It!’, selected to represent Cyprus on the IBBY Honour List, the international selection of outstanding works of children’s and young adult literature by IBBY’s national sections, highlighting works of writing, illustration and translation that stand out for their literary and artistic quality.

It is also noted that during the Congress, the Commissioner took part in the proceedings of the IBBY General Assembly, representing Cyprus in the voting process, as well as in a series of sessions and activities concerning children’s participation and voice, literature as a means of supporting children experiencing war and trauma, multilingualism and cultural identity, representation, Artificial Intelligence and digital storytelling, as well as the role of books in building communities that respect diversity.

Of particular significance were the discussions surrounding IBBY Children in Crisis, which utilises books, storytelling and bibliotherapy to support children whose lives have been disrupted by war, civil conflicts or natural disasters, as well as the emphasis on amplifying the voices of indigenous communities and the need to protect their languages and stories.

During the meeting on 26 August between President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhrman, the two sides are expected to discuss whether there is a willingness on the Turkish Cypriot side to make progress on confidence-building measures (CBMs), particularly regarding crossing points, CNA has learnt.

According to informed sources, the two leaders are expected to discuss at their 26 August meeting whether there is willingness on the Turkish Cypriot side for progress on CBMs, particularly on crossing points. As noted, the issue has already been discussed in the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and there is also a proposal submitted by the Secretary-General, to which the Greek Cypriot side has responded positively.

The same sources said that the two sides’ negotiators are expected to meet to prepare for the 26 August meeting.

Regarding the expanded meeting on the Cyprus problem, the same sources noted that efforts to prepare for substantive discussions must continue. The recording of areas of convergence is already under way, and these will be provided to all those involved – the two sides in Cyprus and the guarantor powers. The Secretary-General is then expected to convene the expanded meeting.

It was noted that the aim is for a decision to be taken at the expanded meeting to begin talks.

It is recalled that, following the joint meeting he held with President Christodoulides and Erhrman on 29 July in Nicosia, the UN Secretary-General announced that he had decided to convene another 5+1 meeting on Cyprus, after adequate preparations on confidence building, methodology and substance, taking into account the convergences already achieved.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.